The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-25
CHAPTER XIV.

forty miles from the Everglades.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GREAT CYPRESS FOREST.
Lake Washington is ABOUT a dozen miles longs
1t is of the least important lakes in this part
of southern Florida. Its waters are not deep,
and they are crowded with bushes and branches
brought down by the stream from the floating
fields, where the snakes in such numbers as
even to render the Navigation dangerous. Like
its banks. its surface is almost deserted, and
seldom indeed is 1t that boat from the ST.
Johns ventures SO far.
At the southern end OF the lake the river re-
sumes Its course, bending more towards the
middle af the peninsula It is then little more
than shallow brook. it's source being some
thirty miles further south. between the twenty
eighth and twenty -seventh degrees of latitude
Below Lake Washington the St. Johns is not
navgabie. Much to the regret of James Bur-
bank, the stream had to be abandoned. and the
land road taken through very difficult coun-
try, often better than a marsh. through end
less forests with the ground so cut up with rivu-
lets and quacmires to be almost impossible.
The expedition landed. The weapons and
bales oe provisions were divided amongst the
blacks Every one knew his place. and there
would be cause for delay. All had been
thought out in advance, and when halt was
called the camp could be pitched in a few min
utes.
Gilbert and Mars occupied themselves in hid
ing the boat, so that it might escape the obser.
walton of any Seminoles or Floridans who might
pass that way. Under the drooping branches Of
the trees by the bank, and among the gigantic
r0eOS IL was easy 10 uu1 d nlCinS pldC0 Oh COL
cealment
There was another boat which Gilbert would
have been glad to frd-that which had brought
by and Zermah to Lake Washington. Evident
ly Texar must have abandoned it somewhere in
the neighborhood " hat James Burbank had
been obliged to do the Spaniard rust have done.
And for some hours in the afternoon a search
for this boat was made. in order to procure posi-
tive proof that Texar had reached Lake Wash
ington.
The search was in vain. The boat could not
rof parhc ho onia ri ha6 nvoI
it. thinking it would be of no further TO him.
How painful must the journey now become
There was no longer the river TO save the woman
and child from fatigue. by, carried in Zermah's
arms. forced to follow the men who were used to
such marches through this difficult country; the
half breed subject to insults and violence. and
beaten TO hasten her steps, and falling often to
save the child when thinking nothing of herself
all this was pictured to the minds OF those In
pursuit AS Mars thought of all this he grew
pale with anger and mnttered to himself
81 will kill Texar"
Would he were at Carneral island face to face
with the villain whose abominable Vaccinations
had caused such suffering to the Burbanks, and
injured him more deeply by taking away Ter
nah, his wife.
The camp was formed at the extremity of
small cape projecting northwards into the lake.
1t had not been thought wise to risk travelling
into the forest during the night, and it was de-
cided to wait for the dawn before the start was
made. At 4 o'clock the signal to move
given. The bales and packages were distributed
amongst half the crew. it being intended to
work relays. All, masters and men, were armed
with MIME rifles. loaded with bullet and four
buckshet. and Colt revovers. which came into
general use during the war of secession.
Armed in this way they were equal to attack
ing Texar at the head of sixty of his men.
1t had been decided to keep to the course of
the river as closely possible This would
take them to the south in the direction of Lake
Okee- cho-bee It a thread through the
forest labyrinth and it followed easily
enough. Along the right bank sort offoot-
path. towing-path. in fact, used by those who
dragged their light canoes up stream. Gilbert
and Mars first; James Burbank and
Edward Carol brought up the rear: Perry was
in the middle and every hour saw that the loads
were changed. Before the start rapid break
at noon for dinner. and another a 6 o'clock for
supper and camping. If matters did not look
look promising for night march That was
the programme and it was punctually adhered
At frat the road lay along the eastern shore
of Lake Washington, low and fat, and almost
on the move. Then the forest came on. but of
slight extent compared to what it was to be.
This forest chiefly composed of thickets OF
log wood with small leaves and yellow clusters,
and with the brownish heart wood SO we'll known
to dyers; then there were Mexican eims. guazu-
mas with white bouquets, used in SO many ways.
and with shade giving it Is said. a most obstin-
ate cold. Dotted about were q few groups or
cinchonas, here mere shrubs instead of magnifi-
cent trees in Peru. Everywhere rose groups
of bright colored plants. such as gentians
amaryllides and asclepias; all plants and flowers
yellow or white in Europe being here of different
shades of red and purple.
Towards evening the thickets disappeared to
give way to the great cypress forest, which ex-
tends to the Everglades.
During the day they had walked twenty
miles. Gilbert asked of the negroes If they were
tired.
eve are ready to go on. SIR" said one Of
them answering for the rest.
Are not likely to go astray during the
night? asked Edward Carroll.
NO" said Mars, I'VE have only got to keep to
the river
'.And the night is clear" said the young Off
Ger. ''the sky is cloudless the moon will rise at
and last till day Besides, the foliage of the
cypress not very thick. and the darkness is
great as in any other forest"
So they made fresh start. The next morn
ing after travelling part of the night they
stopped to breakfast at the foot of one of the
huge cypress trees which can be counted in mill
ions in this region of Florida.
He who has not explored these natural mar
wells hardly figure them to himself Imag
inc stretch of green more than a hundred feet
above the river, with tree trunks straight
towers. on whose tops it seems almost possible
to walk. Below the ground Is wet and marshy;
the water in pools on the impermeable SOIL
round which and in which are crowds of frogs
and toads, and lizards and scorpions, and
SPIDERS turtles. snakes. and aquatic birds.
Above the pools fash. like shooting stars, bright
plumaged orioles: in the trees leap squirrels and
gather parrots, who fill the forest with their
noisy screeches a curious country it is, and
difficult penetrate The ground must be
carefully studied. for q foot passenger may sink
to his armpits in the many quagmires. But
keeping a sharp look out in the clear night the
expedition advanced without accident.
The river still gave them their course. And
this was fortunate, for the expresses all re-
sembed each other. with their twisted spiral
trunks, hollow below, and throwing out their
long roots that -idged the soil. and rose for
twenty feet more in cylindrical STEMS huge
ribs with knotty handle supporting immense
green umbrella that gave but little protection
for either rain or sun.
1t was beneath these trees that James Bur-
bank and his companions were journeying q